August 1, 1997Annals of Neurology
Quantitative assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function in Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Key result
Subclinical autonomic involvement in Guillain-Barré syndrome peaks at disease height and gradually improves over time.
- n=51
Why the study?
The temporal course and relationship between autonomic failure and motor weakness in Guillain-Barré syndrome were not well characterized.
What is the temporal course of cardiovascular autonomic function and its relationship to motor weakness in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Population
13 consecutive patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome
Comparison
25 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with other neurological diseases
Design
Observational study with serial autonomic function testing
Follow-up
Up to 1 year
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Suggests parallel autonomic and motor recovery in GBS; leaves open whether routine testing improves outcomes.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=51)
Structured PICO
What is the temporal course of cardiovascular autonomic function and its relationship to motor weakness in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome?
P
Population
13 consecutive patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 25 healthy volunteers, and 13 patients with other neurological diseases followed for up to 1 year.
E
Exposure
Serial cardiovascular autonomic function testing (parasympathetic and sympathetic tests)
C
Comparator
25 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with other neurological diseases
O
Outcome
Temporal course of autonomic failure and its relationship with motor weaknesssurrogate
Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is common during the acute phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome and improves in parallel with motor recovery.
Cite This Study
Flachenecker et al. (1997) conducted an observational in Guillain-Barré syndrome (n=51). Guillain-Barré syndrome vs. Healthy volunteers and patients with other neurological diseases was evaluated on Cardiovascular autonomic function (parasympathetic and sympathetic). In 13 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, subclinical autonomic involvement of both parasympathetic and sympathetic arms was present at the height of disease and improved gradually over time.